spermatium

[ spur-mey-shee-uh m ]

/ spɜrˈmeɪ ʃi əm /

noun, plural sper·ma·ti·a [spur-mey-shee-uh] /spɜrˈmeɪ ʃi ə/.

Botany. the nonmotile male gamete of a red alga.

Mycology. a minute, colorless cell, of certain fungi and lichens, believed to be a male reproductive body, developed within spermogonia.

Words nearby spermatium

spermatic cord, spermatic duct, spermatic fluid, spermaticide, spermatid, spermatium, spermato-, spermatoblast, spermatocele, spermatocide, spermatocyte

Origin of spermatium

1855–60; < New Latin < Greek spermátion, equivalent to spermat- (stem of spérma) sperm¹ + -ion -ium

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for spermatium

spermatium

/ (spɜːˈmeɪtɪəm) /

noun plural -tia (-tɪə)

a nonmotile male reproductive cell in red algae and some fungi

Word Origin for spermatium

C19: New Latin, from Greek spermation a little seed; see sperm 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Science definitions for spermatium

spermatium

[ spər-mā′shē-əm ]

Plural spermatia

A nonmotile cell in red algae and certain ascomycete fungi that functions as a male gamete.